Chapter 49 - How He Became An Alpha

And since that made him a powerful being, it made things all the more difficult for Xavier to defeat him.

Now why would Xavier need to defeat him when he was his alpha and he was a mere beta?

Because it was how one became an alpha.

They'd have to challenge each other to a duel. The victor would become the alpha, and the vanquished wouldn't be given any mercy and would be killed mercilessly by the newly appointed alpha.

Now, with that, one would wonder… if Xavier became the alpha, how was Emilio still alive?

Surely Xavier would've killed him during the duel and the rest would be history, right?

Wrong.

It was why he blamed himself for what happened to Madeline.

Rewinding back centuries, Xavier and Miles were engaged in combat.

Xavier was close to losing, but just in the nick of time, he came up with a strategy and outsmarted Miles.

Miles was vanquished, and Xavier was about to kill him with one final blow before he had a quick change of heart. Something told him not to.

And just like that, Xavier gave in.

Instead of killing him, Xavier sealed him away in a cave, thinking death was too convenient for him.

It was that one choice he made that caused the present things to occur.

Now, back to Madeline and Xavier, who were still in Madeline's quarters, having a chat regarding Miles, or Emilio, as Xavier had mentioned.

"Xavier, you can't keep ignoring me," Madeline said.

"You're going to have to tell me who he is eventually."

"Keyword, eventually," Xavier said in return.

Madeline pouted, "Are you really not going to tell me who he is?"

In her life, Madeline had never not gotten her way. When it came to getting what she wanted, she always did.

One would remember that Madeline was raised by adoptive parents. She was loved, although Madeline never felt like they were her parents. They were more reminiscent of guardians tasked to care for her until she was of age. Then, they disappeared into nothing.

Madeline never heard back from them after she returned from university. All they left her was a letter explaining that she'd make her own way in this world, and that she was stronger than she could possibly imagine.

Now, with that, Madeline was left to deliberate over whether or not to tell Xavier regarding the barrier.

She tapped on Xavier's shoulder.

"Yes?"

"There was something else," Madeline admitted.

'It wouldn't hurt to tell him, would it? He wouldn't hurt me.'

"Miles did come close to killing me."

"Oh?"

Madeline then continued, "But, just as he was about to stab me there was this barrier that separated me from him."

"I don't know where it came from but it just appeared out of nowhere."

"You've got to believe me," Madeline said once she saw the look of disbelief on Xavier's face, biting her lip.

"What makes you think I don't believe you?"

Wait, did that mean he believed her?

"What did the barrier look like?"

"It was a light yellowish-brown colour," Madeline responded.

A wave of relief washed over Madeline, so he believed her after all. She couldn't express how grateful. That, and how she'd been wanting to get it off her chest.

"It was so strange," Madeline said as she sat cross-legged on her bed.

"What happened to Emilio?" Xavier asked next, waiting for her reply.

What did happen to him anyway?

"He stabbed himself."

Xavier looked like he'd been punched in the face.

"He what?"

Xavier looked confused, a rare sight.

"So that barrier appeared out of nowhere and Emilio stabbed himself?" Xavier questioned, trying to get Madeline's confirmation before he assumed anything.

Madeline nodded.

"And you managed to escape before he caught you?"

"You sound like you wanted me to get caught by him," Madeline pointed out, pouting.

"You and I know that's not true," Xavier said, before moving on.

"But if what you're saying is true, then…"

"Then what?"

Xavier inquired, "Are you sure you're human?"

"As in, are you completely sure you're human and you don't possess any special abilities that you don't know of?"

Madeline shook her head, "From what I currently know, I'm likely human."

"I don't know what caused the barrier but it wouldn't disappear until--"

A gentle knock came at the door.

'Oh not again,' Madeline thought, wondering who it could be.

She didn't want to stop talking to him, they were having a serious conversation. And it was nice seeing him especially after the ordeal she had.

Looking irritated someone had interrupted their conversation, Xavier got up to open the door.

"That must be Ms Alva," he predicted before opening the door to reveal…yes, Briar.

"O-oh, Alpha Xavier, you're here," Briar seemed genuinely shocked.

She began apologizing profusely, saying she could always leave.

Sighing, Xavier knew the poor girl simply wanted to visit her friend after her near-death experience.

'I'm becoming soft,' he told himself.

He opened the door wider for her to enter, mumbling an excuse before announcing he'd leave.

Walking over to Madeline, he whispered something to her right before he left for his office. He thought it'd be a good idea.

'I'm glad you're okay,' he whispered.

Rendered speechless, Madeline gawked at him.

Briar was in the same room, and he dared say something like that to her?

'O-oh, uh, I-I'm glad I'm okay too,' Madeline stuttered, unable to come up with something to say in return.

As soon as he bid her and Briar goodbye, Madeline moved a hand to her ear, a rosy blush spreading across her face.

"What was that about?" Briar asked, smirking at her.

"He cares about you," she cooed.

"I missed you too, Briar."

Briar turned serious for a second.

"I missed you too, Madeline," she said, pain evident in her tone.

Taking Madeline's hand, Briar exhaled in relief.

Madeline was alright now.

"Whoever did this will pay."

"Do you know who did this?" Briar gestured at her, before her gaze landed on Madeline's hand.

She gasped, unable to get herself to speak and talk to Madeline.

'What the--'

'Why's she behaving so strangely?' Madeline stared at Briar who looked like a fish out of water.

"M-Madeline, d-did you injure your hand?"